Oh, September, I'm so happy to see you! The summer was long and truthfully, it was an adjustment moving into a new home, being out of town, working a lot and finding the time to make our new house feel like ours. I expected to feel right at home in our new place since we'd spent our first year in Vancouver living just down the street. On the one hand it was comfortable from day 1 and I knew my way around as if we'd never left, but felt off and I can't place it. Burned out? Exhausted? Adrift? Adrift. That's the word that comes to mind when I think of where I've been the last few months. So much focus on work, making our house our home, late nights, and going in so many different directions that I've forgotten what makes my heart sing. I haven't blogged, I've barely finished a book, I hardly play my violin, and I only take out my camera if I absolutely must. So. not. me. But, here it is September and I am hopeful.
Club Continental, Orange Park, FL
September has always been one of my favorite months of the year. It is back to school month which always reminds me that it's a fresh start no matter what. This September started with a vacation for us which was a welcome relief from the hot dry summer. We hopped on a plane and landed in hot humid Florida! But it was for good cause and we celebrated sister, Ashley's, wedding. It was a "working" vacation as weddings often are, but it was nice to be a part of her special day and welcome our new brother into the family. The festivities started with the bridal luncheon on Friday September 4th. The event was hosted by 3 of our aunts and had a clever nautical theme, which was woven throughout the entire wedding weekend.
I have a most beautiful mother....I mean really. She's 63. I love her!
Ashley with aunt Janet.
The bride with her niece.
Mama, Emily, and I.
And then it was on to the rehearsal dinner.....such a lovely spot! The Winterbourne Inn is an historic home on the St. Johns River full of southern charm which overlooks a sprawling green lawn and the river.
Stella and her pal, Katie
The Cranston family....John and Irina and their two sons
Emily and Stella
Getting her Belle make-up on!
That laugh! She was just DELIGHTED to be a princess. Love her to pieces!
The rehearsal.
The Spanish moss....I couldn't get enough! (Turns out it's an air plant. Who knew?)
Entering the wedding venue, Club Continental
And then I had to put down my camera because I was IN the wedding so I don't have many photos of the actual EVENT. But, it was a lovely week spent with my family, coffee every morning with my sister, pickups at school with Stella, plenty of playing, lots of ironing of tablecloths and seat covers, and a lovely celebration of love. It was so nice to be back with MY husband at the place we married. The photographer even captured a special photo for US. So kind of her. I'll post it when we get it back. But what I appreciated the most was that JSM and I were back, 8 years later, having weathered a few storms. Marriage is HARD. But we're still married, still loving one another, and still certain we'd make the same decision today. Not only do I love, but I really like the man. I chose.
Since I've felt so overloaded this summer I am trying hard to make my weekends feel restful and rejuvenating. I recently read Laura Vanderkam's What The Most Successful People Do on Weekends and guess what? They don't lay around! They participate in something called active rest which means you actively do things that fill you up. Truthfully, I fantasize about laying on the couch all weekend, but in reality I know it would leave me feeling like a bag of rocks. Instead, I've created a list of 100 dreams (OK, I can only come up with 73 so far) which Vanderkam recommends. So, when I am looking for something meaningful to do I can pull from my list. They are not fancy, expensive, or far flung. For example I've included #7 make pumpkin deserts (my favorite!), #14 spend time in nature, and #37 create a meal plan and eat at home during the week. But, I know they are things I actually want to do and that's important when I want to feel like I've made the most of my weekend. It's a quick read if you are looking for a little inspiration for what to do with your down time.
Now that we are home, I can focus on my favorite time of year. I love the long shadows that fill the late afternoon, the crisp breeze that rolls in around 4 pm each day, and the rustling of the leaves which has started a bit early here because of the long, dry summer we experienced. Leaves are already turning and falling in our little piece of backyard. No doubt from being scorched in the fiery August sun instead of the natural move from fall into winter. Fall decorations fill the downstairs, long-sleeved shirts fill my closet, new books fill my Kindle, and my list of 73 dreams is waiting for me. September is the new January and I'm ready to be full of all the things that make my heart sing!
